Swimmer&#39;s foot aid



Juny s, 192,4; n,s0o,942

A. B. JOHNSON swIMMR s FOOT AID Filed Aug. 23, 1923 Patented `luly 8, 1924.

- UNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. JOHNSO'N, vHARTFORfll, CONNECTICUT.'

SWIMMERS FOOT AID.

Application filed August 23, 1923. Serial No. 659,016.

` adapted to be positioned at the bottom of the Vfoot of the swimmer and that operates responsive to the usual swimming strokes andv by means in the form of expansible andk collapsible wing structure to provide a relatively .extended contacting area in the propelling direction whereby -the exertion required in swimming will be reduced and" at the outside and ends that cooperates with swimming will be made easier, and the object of my improvement is toy produce a foot-aid that is relatively simple and of economical form of construction, and convenient and efficient in use, and that particularly is free operating and reliable.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved swimmers foot-aid, as viewed from the top side that is applied to the bottom of the foot of the swimmer. y

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same,

an alternative position of the wings being shown by broken lines.

Figure 4 is a sectional viewkon the line 4f-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank for the wing structure.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the blank for the hinge plate.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank for the stop plate for limiting the inward movement of the wings.

My improved swimmers foot-aid comprises a foot-plate or base 10 that is adapted to be applied to the bottom of the foot of the swimmer in any approved manner and operatively supported from said plate l0 is an expansible and collapsible wing structure, the latter being composed in the present instance of a pair of wings 11 that are individually connected tosaid plate 10 by means of a suitable hinge connection.

The foot-plate 10 is fashion-shaped, comprising a shank lportion 12 intermediate a heel portion 13 and a sole portion 14 and is provided with a plurality of holes 15 for attaching meansfor attachingto the sole vof a shoe, as indicated by the broken lines 16, the foot plate being preferably made of narrower width than the Yshoe and bein'g smaller generally so as to avoid detrimental dragging 'eifect or back resistance.'r

The borderedges of they foot-plate 10 are provided with a downwardly directed flange Y of appreciable depth that Vserves as a vreinforcement or stiffening means and also serves to enclose and definel a pocket thatV tends to' confine and retain a'layer'of water" under pressure conditions. The effectthere-' of is to reduce water friction as applied to the water that is divertedlaterally during the thrust movement. Y

The wings 11 also have a border-flange 18 that extends along the free edge portion the hinge structure tobe described to enclose and confine a iilm or layer of water.

The wing struct-.ure is secured to the foot- I relation and an intermediate connecting hinge plate 20 that bridges said space, the

opposed edges of the said plate 2O and the adJacent wing 11 being connected by means of a hinge connection, as will be described.Y

Said hingeconnection comprises a set of knuckles or hinge-sleeves 22 on the wing 11 that alternate with a set of knuckles or hinge-sleevesmQ on the plate 20, an elongated pivotal pin 24 being extended through the entire series of knuckles.

Thus the hinge structure, as described, is adapted to be assembled by itself complete as a unit and iinally connected to the footplate 10 by means' of the rivets 19.

Constructed as described, the wings 11 are adapted to swing freely relatively to the supporting foot-plate 10 and as the foot of the swimmer is pushed downwardly or outwardly in the water they tend to open out under-the pressure of the water, and by having the wings 11 extend appreciablyV I find itdesiralble t'ofpositivelyfcheck such inward or return movement of the Wings 11 so that when at the innermost position they will be substantially-paalleland atri ht angles t the foot-plate 10. Thus is avoi ed a back of thekcenter condition of the Wings and they Will be 'ready toK open instantly upon a change in direction of movement togthe, thrustingi yor pushingr direction,` such opening being effected by the rush of Water between the'wings 11. l 4

The means for "checking the f wings as described'comprise on each side a backing edge 25 for abutting Wi'ththe opposed portion of theinner face'of the Wing 11, said edge 2 5 beingipositioned immediately belovy7 the-'hinge connection 21. Said'backing edges means of .aVv backingy plate 26 and constitute the free'redges of a Vpairof laterally directed anges yat the'latveraljends ofsaid plate 26. Intermediate the anges 27 is a U- shaped supporting body that isY composed of the opposed yand parallel side Walls 28 and a 4-connecting yoke ror base 29 intermediate said side walls 28. f o

Said yoke or base 29 overlaysthe body portion of the hinge-plate kand is held in are provided by placeby means of the rivets 19 already mentionedl y The backing plate 26 serves in a general Way as. ai reinforcement of the assembled structurew as a Whole, and particularly along the longitudinal axis or backbone.

The structure asl described is preferably made of slieet'metal, particularly aluminum.

Changes in details may be made from the particular forms that are shown. Thus the body portion of the Wings may be, corrugated to provide reinforcing ribs andpermit theuse of thinner sheet material.

.I claimas my invention Y A swimmers foot-aid comprising a longitudinally directed supporting plate,afvving'l structure on the under side of said plate, and a backing plate on the under side of said Wing structure, said Wing structure comprising va middle plate and apair ofV Wings connected individuallyAE to the; oppo;rk site ylateral yedges* thereof,` saidbacking plate having' ianges for cooperating With said wings as back-stops, and said middle plate,: Wings,v and backing plate being made of sheet metal.

, ALBERT e. JOHNSON, 

